Hey, Darling Siestas! I hope you are well and sensing the Presence of Christ in your every day tasks. I have two quick and very different things to share with you:
First, I want to make sure you know that the last day to register for the Siesta Fiesta gathering is July 22nd, so it’s coming up really quickly. Mind you, this is not the last day to register for the Living Proof Live event in San Antonio. I’m only referring to our Siesta get-together.
*If you want to come but haven’t registered, please do! You can get more info and register by following this link.
*If you’re already registered but have realized you’re not going to be able to come after all, please let us know to cancel you for the Siesta gathering. We really need an accurate head-count to make the proper arrangements. Please email us at [email protected].
*My last request concerning the Siesta Fiesta is hard for me to say but it really needs to be said. Please help us keep the Siesta gathering strictly for the blog community. Please don’t sign up groups of women to come with you that don’t participate in our blog. Those are the people we want so much to come to the actual Living Proof Live event and can hardly wait to have them! Bring them on! Unbelievers and believers alike! Anybody and everybody! The Siesta Fiesta get-together, however, is meant to give you bloggers a chance to get to know one another face-to-face. It is being sponsored only for this blog community. Our purest intention is community and not exclusivity. We just want to have a little family reunion of sorts for the women that have gotten to know each other here. Thank you so much for understanding! Let’s keep our hearts pure about this from every side.
The second thing I want to share with you is pounding in my heart. I don’t have time to write it with my deadline coming up (by the way, your prayers are working! keep them up!) but it’s going to consume me if I don’t. I’m just going to take a very general, short stab at it and hope to feel the relief of getting it out there. My prompting for this word is not coming from the blog community. It’s coming from requests that have swamped our ministry office recently and that we have gladly and compassionately received. The common denominator has been the same: women just totally out of control and doing some really foolish things. I’ve been one of them so I recognize some of the symptoms. And the cries for help. And the misguided desires for the kind of empathy that pats them on the head and says, “Who could blame you? Go right ahead.” Because I love you so much, I want to share what the Holy Spirit is impressing on me in case it resonates. Listen here, Girls. If this shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it! Shake it off and know that it’s not for you. But, if it does, be courageous and respond in obedience to God. Let me remind you before I dive into this that God pulled me from the deepest possible pit of sin and no one has been more tightly clutched by strongholds than me. Not one bit of this comes to you from a proud or condemning heart. It comes strictly from love and concern and as one who could have used this word along the way. So here it goes.
Sometimes we just need to STOP IT. Just plain stop it. We don’t need to keep praying over it. We don’t need to keep deliberating it. We don’t need one last shot at it. We don’t need five more years of counseling over it. We flat need to stop it. Like, for instance,
*If we’re married and we’re flirting with somebody at work (calling it harmless), we need to stop it.
*And, Lord have mercy, if any of us are having affairs, we need to stop it NOW. With every second that goes by, the consequences are mounting. Please do not let the enemy trick you into thinking you’re getting away with it. You’re not. Don’t rationalize it. Don’t tell me what a jerk your husband is and how you’re finally in love for the first time. Get some fear of God and stop it.
*If we’re being a brat about something, we need to stop it.
*If we’re still punishing somebody for what they did to us, we need to stop it. Enough is enough. Let God deal with them.
*If we’re trying to do God’s job with somebody, we need to stop it.
No Scripture says it more succinctly and exactly than Isaiah 1:16b: “Stop doing wrong.” Hear the voice of God say, “I’ve warned you and warned you and warned you. STOP IT.”
I say this as a woman to whom sometimes a brief, “STOP IT NOW!” works better than anything. I love you so much and I want all of us to live in the full blessing of God that only obedience can invite. His will is for us, Siestas. Go with God on this or things are going to get really ugly. Take the warning and stop.
Beth,
Thank you so much for modeling obedience. I respect how you respond when God gives you a word and how you trust Him completely to work out the how the hearer receives it. It is clear your desire is to please the Lord and not to just be liked by all. Some might say this is what a life that tries to emulate Jesus might look like 😉
With love and appreciation,
Betsy (in Bellingham, WA)
ok, that’s just a little scarey! I am most certain that God just spoke directly to me through you. I am a new Christian and God has been working hard on me. There is a particular issue that I’m struggling with and have spent the last several weeks pouting, feeling sorry for myself, and basically acting like an ungrateful brat. I’ve been in constant prayer to Him about it, but have yet to change my mindset or attitude. Please pray that I’m able to be more grateful for the blessings He has graced me with and to simply accept His plans for me without complaining or arguing.
only my second time on your blog, and as only god knew ahead of time, just what i needed to hear. amazing that he can use someone so far removed from me to speak the words that i needed at just the time i needed them. gives me such an understanding of how important i am to him. i believe he would have put the “stop it” message on your heart even if i was the only one who needed it. thank you for being faithful to listen for what he wants you to share and for having the courage and humility to share it. you will never understand what this has meant to me.
Beth, boldness and honesty. THANKS!! I fully understand and support what you say about the Siesta Fiesta. Community! I’ve not posted much, but read lots. Some of my best buddies are gals I’ve met through message boards/blogs such as this.
As for your “stop it” word. WELL SAID!! Some things don’t even need prayer to know God’s will. Often His will is clear in a situation. I don’t need to pray to KNOW His will, I just need to DO His Will.
Thanks for the tough but good and necessary word!!
God bless you!
Cynthia \o/
put out my last cigarette. Please God may I stop it.
Beth, you are so right. Our culture is in such decline and too many Christians are declining right with it. We have to be intentional not to adopt the ways of the world around us. Your message to get in God’s Word and live it (in your Bible studies) is the bottom line. Thank you for being honest and blunt. It is greatly needed in the Christian family. I know that with the blunt comments comes a heart of great compassion.
Sandy
Plano, TX
Amen, Beth. I can so relate to moments when I sensed the Lord saying, “Enough already.” When wisdom prevailed and I followed the Lords command I felt peace and release. Oh, but the times I pursued the “thing” brought nothing but misery.
If you can’t choose what’s truly right for yourself, another adult, or even to honor God (I shudder I as type that), then look into the face of a child who depends on you. Imagine that little face having to deal with your sin, while knowing that friends, church mates, teachers and relatives are talking about it. Realize that you will no longer be their role model…or may lose the relationship altogether. Then decide.
Oh, my goodness, Mama Beth. This is speaking to me so directly and so very deeply – these words are ringing loud in my ears, even from the depth of my pit that I keep fooling myself I’ve climbed over and “covered up”. Lord God, I’m listening. I will stop NOW!!!!!!!!
maria cristina
what words of truth you speak. thank you for speaking them. I want God to examine me for things I need to stop and I am praying for my dear friends in their need of stopping something. thank you
morgen
Beth,
I can’t be at the event, but will be covering it in prayer while my fellow siestas are there. I’m trying to pick out just the right scripture to pray for the gathering, any suggestions?
And THANK YOU, for having enough Jesus love to say what you said. My husband and I are currently walking through the long term consequences of some bad things, and it would have been nice for someone who loved us to say, “Stop it!” Now I’m going to pray for all of the other “Stop It’s” in my life.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
For Ruthanne,
I doubt there is a mother out there who at one time or another didn’t feel like running away, like “this is not what I signed up for, not what I was expecting”. I know, been there- and not just one solitary passing thought, either. Hang in there, girl!!! It will be so worth it one day!!! They do grow up, the chaos that is child rearing settles down- they go off to live their own lives and then you kinda wish you had some of that chaos back (just a bit). Let the Lord be the One to make your burden light, the One you can run to and unload. I promise you, He will not let you down. I will be praying for you!
Your Siesta in Boston.
Bravo and Amen! Let’s start being thankful and content with what (and whom) we have and where we are. I’ll be searching for Stop It Now issues in MY life.
I am reminded that no matter what stage of life we are in or what pit we are trying to crawl out of, we all have something that we need to STOP! It could seem to be somthing small, like self pity or jealousy, or anger or depression. We ALL needed to hear this message. Thank you for being bold and sharing what God has obviously placed on your sweet heart! You are such a blessing to my life.
Dear Beth,
I so needed to hear those words out loud. I know that is what God has been telling me to do but did not realize it till you said it. I have cried out to Him and He is showing me how to STOP IT!!!! and not continue in the course that I was going. The first step toward stopping was the hardest. (for me it was a battle)
I am so thankful that He is faithful!!!
Love you Beth,
Queen Esther Star is a cutie!!!
What a simple and powerful message, Beth! I’ve always felt there is a tension between my sin and God’s healing…What part is MY job and what part is God’s divine help???? “Help” is the best thing I can say to God when I am in sin. “Stop it” is my MY job.
I think women actually want to hear “stop it” because it is a relief to stop flip-flopping and just cut to the Truth. Glad you said it, and glad you know how to say it with both force and grace – that’s how God says it to us. When I finally said “stop it” to myself … well, it wasn’t an easy road, but it was instantly freeing AND it was the beginning of the freedom in Christ I enjoy today!
Elisabeth Elliot, in her devotional, “A Lamp Unto My Feet,”- page 97 reads:
“A young man was delivered from a life of self-destruction in the form of drug abuse. (here, I insert my own capitivy) He turned from his old ways but, of course, was pursued by the enemy and tempted back. It was clear to him that he could not afford to be lenient with himself in allowing the least indulgence in the old habit. One day he said to his pastor, ‘Don’t ever allow me to use the word ‘struggle.’ Every time I use it I am excusing disobedience. I am really prefering to struggle rather than to quit.’
…To struggle – that is, to allow a little bit of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, to be tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience- is to try to keep both eyes. (referring to Mt. 5:29).”
What an excellent word – one that speaks directly to my own heart on many levels. God also used you to confirm the direction for a retreat I’m teaching in the fall.
It’s called “Sarah: A Woman out of Control”.
Thank you for being a faithful voice from the Almighty. Because we trust your heart, we have confidence that where it takes us is a good place – even if we are a little afraid to go there.
I DO hope I get to hug you in San Antonio! 🙂
I’m praying for you Ruthanne. Hang onto God and take it day by day, minute by minute if you have to. We can’t do anything more than that. He is our sustainer.
Thank you Beth for your faithfulness in friendship and leading us gals!
Through God, your study Why Godly People Do Ungodly Things brought deliverance and restoration in my life! Thank you so much – God returned to me the gift of my marriage through that study. It is very reminiscent of your advice today to STOP IT NOW! Boundaries are crucial in this! Blessings!
Dee
sO GOOD!! The Word of the Lord just rang in my Spirit as we are in an age where our integrity for Christ needs to stand out! I would much rather have the tough word now then to have standing before the Father.
Wish I could just call you-you are always so real with us. I know that we could talk for hours only coming up for breath every few minutes.
I will go before the Lord today and ask Him where he is saying “Red Light”!
Moderator, you need not post this comment if you’d rather not (I don’t know how you all feel about links), but I thought Beth might get a chuckle out of watching this old Bob Newhart sketch on MadTV. I do not mean to undermine the seriousness and truth of what she posted. Not at all! What she posted was so good and important for us to hear! I just couldn’t help but think of this skit b/c I just got a forward last week with the link to it, and hubby and I had a good laugh over it. It’s called “Stop It”. 🙂 Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE
Thank you for your obedience in sharing a difficult word. You are loved and admired soooo much!
I received a WORD from STOP IT! I have been feeling sorry for myself because of my husbands behaviors and also asking God how can I live with this. I feel I was told to stop it, work on yourself and HE will take care of him.
Thank you for delivering Gods precious word to us.
Ouch!!!! So timely for me.
It is only the truest of friends; those that love you with a deep love that will be honest EVERY time and in EVERY situation (like, “Girl, I love you but you need to go to work on those dark roots! -or- It’s time to let go of those Mom jeans – join us in 2008”). I thank my God for His vessel, Beth. What a friend she is to so very many. I’m sure that most all of is can apply this “STOP IT” to some area of our life. Thanks Beth for your boldness to say it like it is.
Ok, so here is how your STOP IT has spoken to me. My husband and i have been in turmoil about our Chiropractic practice. Granted we are all sinners, we still have strived to be in obedience, practice with integrity and love, raise our children to love Jesus, be a light, and worship and serve our Father in our church family and abroad..and I mean abroad in Africa. My husband nearly died last Christmas from Malaria he caught in Africa. He suffered a reaction to the second round of malaria meds and had liver damage and nerve damage in his right arm and shoulder…rendering him unable to work for 6 weeks…GOD HEALED him completely and just two weeks ago, my husband went back to Africa. So here is where I have to STOP IT…Our practice is barely staying afloat and we are doing our best to hear God and follow, and Business just stays the same…even when God performs amazing miracles and heals people in the office…WE KEEP WORRYING THAT GOD HAS REMOVED HIS BLESSING AND FAVOR ON US AND HAVE RUN OURSELVES RAGGED IN FEAR THAT HE NO LONGER WILL PROVIDE.
OK N.O.W. S.T.O.P. I.T. Kate.
God is not going to be faithful one day and unfaithful the next. BELIEVE ME, God says. I HAVE THE BEST FOR YOU IN MY PLANS. I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, YOU ARE MY MASTERPIECE AND I HAVE PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE LOVING MOST HIGH GOD.
THank you Beth for the Stern yet Loving word from Him. Thankyou for taking time when you don’t really have it, to share with us what He is speaking. You are awesome and I can’t wait to see you and give you a hug at Siesta Fiesta Mama Beth!
P.S. sorry so long, but thanks for letting me share.
Love, Kate in Charlottesville
I have observed much of this too. Thanks for just stating it like it is. Stop it! That is the truth. Enough said.
Much love,
Angela
Ah! How I’d love, love, love to be at the siesta gathering to meet some of my siesta friends. Know that I’ll be thinking of all of you and praying for an amazing time of connections.
From the other side of the world,
Adele
May God open our hearts so that those who need to hear that “Stop It” realized that it applies to them. I am thankful that God has spoken those words to me at various times in my life.
Amen,
I think we all need to hear STOP IT NOW from time to time. Wether it be big issues or little ones. God is great and great is His faithfulness. Don’t eve stop telling us the truth, or candy coating it only someone who really cares about you is that honest!
Blessings
Mary
Ms. Beth,
You are right on the mark about cease and desisting!! We need bold talking because the time is now for the rain to fall. There is not a moment to waste on dangerous paths. I am so sad I can’t come to Siesta Fiesta. I have enjoyed getting to know some of greatest women, but my Pastor’s wife duties are calling so I can’t make it. Will be there in spirit sending up some praise!!
Kim
mama beth, what a timely word that was. i needed to hear it, specifically the “stop being a brat”. because i am a big one. and i’m waking up to that i’m a control freak and a pouter/fit-thrower when things aren’t on my terms.
and also (HUGE ITEM) that i need to not focus on the WHYs, but on working with the Lord through prayer/word to stop.
Hey siestas, LPM, and Spiritual Mom Beth!
I’ve been reading what I’ve missed in blog world while on mission trip…I loved the video of Deeper Still, God spoke to me-really overwhelmed me at that event!…I love your puppy, Queen Esther “Star”!!! cutest little thing and a blessing to you too!…and the grand prize winners made me smile, laugh-loved it! powerful stuff!:)…YES, I will continue to pray! PRAYER is so key! On this mission trip, PRAYER was most definitely the focus of the whole trip…I understand what you are saying with these women-really all of us-need prayer! The enemy likes to ambush us and catch us off guard and he aims to steal, kill, and destroy. Now’s the time to get fortified as we see the day approaching. “For such a time as this”, right? LORD, HELP US! WE WANT TO FINISH WELL! WAKE US UP AND FIX AND HEAL US! TIME IS SHORT! AMEN, SO BE IT!
Sorry for the long post!
LOVE you all in CHRIST!!! Blessed day to you!:)
katiegfromtennessee
I posted already, however, I wanted to talk directly to ruthanne but cannot figure out how to send her a comment directly.
ruthanne, I have been there and I only have 2 kids….May the Lord truly wrap His arms around you. I got through wanting to leave everyone behind, and also not because of an affair. I wanted to run away, the life I was living was too much to handle. And I certainly didn’t want to stay with my husband any longer.
What I am about to tell you may seem very simplistic and you may think, that wont work, but trust me when I tell, it s the only think that did work after 2 years of searching for answers.
It has to start with taking care of your personal relationship with GOD, and then you have to take care of yourself. Get with God everyday for your quiet time, if you need to do a bible study to do so find one if you can join a women’s bible study group at your church even better, you need the support! but make God your first priority….
Second you need to eat right and exercise everyday, and drink lots of water. NO CAFFEINE! it is a stimulant that makes the feelings of running away worse. Once you are healthy you can add caffeine in a small amount back into your diet.
Last – get profession counseling from a Christian counselor – sometimes the church has someone on staff that does counseling for free – you need to talk about all your pent up emotions!
I am praying for you Siesta! God can help you over come, if you just let Him..
Blessings
Mary
I so needed that word!!! Thank you for being true to your Siestas. Praise Him!!!
You hit the nail on the hand (Jesus’ hand). To continue in our sin is a bold slap in the face of Jesus. I appreciate your bold step to encourage all to “STOP IT NOW!” in the tracks of our sin. It is against Him and Him only have we sinned as King David would say.
Oh Beth-Thank you for sharing your heart! I love how you care so much for the girls you minister too!
I do want to live in the full blessing of God!
I just LOVE how you put it! I think I am going to print and blow up the seventh paragraph : )
I agree I think sometimes a brief “Stop it!” works better than anything! I think we all can use a “Just Stop it Now!” in several areas of our lives… well at least I can : )
Can’t wait till San Antonio! Emmy : )
Thank you Beth. As a pastor’s wife, so many times I have said this very thing and have wanted to say it many more. My family is in the middle of a health crisis with our son and the reality of the petty things has really hit home. Lately, I have had to really balance the need to have compassion on someones circumstances with the need to say ‘Stop it.’ Thank you for your boldness and your sweetness. You’ve mentored me. The love of the Lord, and His strength, are both evident in this word.
Beth, I had to take a minute and let your words fall on me. Yesterday was a very difficult day.
I know that the Holy Spirit spoke to you on my behalf, because when I read the post I was stunned. Pray that I can STOP bringing up the past and forgive others and for heavens sake just move on.
Love and Blessings, Debbie in Tennessee
The thing is we are supposed to be DIFFERENT from the world. I recently read a Max Lucado book/bible study called, “It is not about me”.
The book focuses on the fact that our lives should be based around Jesus, and not our own desires.
For the last several years I have had to really rethink some BELIEFS and some doctrines I had held on to. No offense to any one – BUT the name it and claim it philosophy for one thing. I had to examine my motives… and they were not pretty.
I was trying to manipulate God into going along with my hair brained schemes…most relating to my wants and desires not his. Man alive, he has jerked a knot in me.
Thank goodness he is a God of grace is all I can say and he is merciful.
Amen to that! Loved it and often need to hear it!
Sometimes the simplest of words are the most clear.
STOP. IT.
I have heard these exact words whispered to me before by the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for the reminder said not only in obedient boldness but with true love and compassion.
It seems like we all have something or somethings that we just need to STOP, at first I thought this dosen’t apply to me…I’m not doing anything I need to stop, but on further thought I have quite a lot, that needs to STOP. Searching and Praying
I don’t post much, but read often, Thank you Beth, and everone here for sharing and caring.
Beth – you mentioned how God pulled you from the deepest possible pit of sin – how did He do that for you?
I have tears streaming down my face as this word ‘stop it’ is PERFECT timing as I know that I have never been more clutched by a particular sronghold in all my life as you described in your past. It is so hard for me to stop and I pray if I just need to leave, but at the same time I desire God to pull me out as you described. Please provide your advice and feedback.
I’m so thankful that you were obedient to the Holy Spirit’s calling today and were willing to speak boldly to us!
I wish someone had told me to STOP IT many years ago…oh how different my life might have been. But I’m praising Him now that I’m not living a STOP IT kind of life any more and am just crazy about Him and His Word!
Praise you LORD, Covenant Maker and Keeper!!
Thank you dear Beth for the word to STOP IT! As I’ve been studying NOG I too have been hearing that I’ve got to just stop some of the things that keep me from a vital relationship with the Lord. It all boils down to obedience to Him! I no longer want to keep looking at my past thinking that’s why I do such and such. I want to live for today and STOP IT! If God is warning me I must heed His warning. His Word is truth and I want to live in His truth for today, for this hour, for this minute.
Beth, thank you so much for your boldness. I can’t imagine actually trying to open this subject while in the midst of a huge deadline! Not only did you tackle it, but so lovingly and clearly. I needed this one 🙂
I am praying for you, for clarity of thought, peace, and speediness. hehe. You are such a wonderful teacher. Bold, funny, relatable, insightful, willing, and real.
I want to pass on a link to a very funny clip on youtube. My family quotes this on a daily basis. It is doubly hilarious after hearing your message today! If you feel it is inappropriate, feel free to edit my message, but I hope you get a good laugh out of this!!! You are loved.
Here it is:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE
Thank you for these simple, yet very powerful two words…”stop it.”
May each of us have the courage to not only recognize putting this to use in our own lives, but to be able to tell others in a kind, loving, gentle way they need to “stop it” when we see them going down a path of disobedience which leads to destruction.
I appreciate you & loved Life Today when you taught from II Chron. 20. The battle is God’s!
Love you!
Valerie
Beth –
You need not apoligize for your blatent concern. That is what makes you so special. So many women and men live thier lives now like bystanders “its not my job,” or “its none of my business,” I, for one am tired of LUKE WARM friends and followers of Christ. Let’s live like every second makes a difference, becuase it does!
Thanks for your care and strength, you are someone to admire in her obedience.
Molly
PS: Relates a lot to the Lizard and the Dr Pepper Can. Sweet drops can be suffocating.